Cutler drama reveals Jay has made few friends

Jay Cutler spent three years in Denver, and we, the media who covered him, and you, the fans who buy tickets and jerseys and watch the games, never really knew him. He didn’t want us to, and wouldn’t let us.

What we saw was a guy who hated to give interviews, who rarely smiled on the sidelines during games, rarely made public appearances and was generally ambivalent about the “other stuff” that comes along with being a franchise quarterback. In nearly two years in Chicago, Cutler has been largely the same guy, though because of the nature of his arrival in Chicago — he was hailed as a franchise savior — fans seemed to love him more at first only to despise him even more now.

The result, though, of his difficult relationship with the media and fans is that Cutler had no one outside of the guys in his own locker room in Chicago do defend him when he left Sunday’s NFC Championship game with a knee injury. I was in the press box at Heinz Field, watching the game with dozens of other NFL writers, and many of us had the same reaction to you: What is happening? Why isn’t he playing? Is he really hurt? If he can stand on the sidelines, why isn’t he playing?

At the time, I didn’t hear anyone sticking up for Cutler at the time, not in person and certainly not online.

I don’t want to debate Cutler’s toughness. In his time here in Denver, and in his two seasons in Chicago, I think Cutler has proven to be one of the “tough guys” — a quarterback who loves to throw blocks and take on defenders, a guy who would rather lower his shoulder into a defender rather than slide. He has missed only one game since he became the starting quarterback midway through 2006, and that was because of a concussion this year — a concussion suffered after he was sacked NINE TIMES in one half.

So if Cutler, his teammates and coaches say he was hurt, I’m going to believe them. The bigger issue this drama has revealed is just how deep Cutler’s image problem is, and how much work he has to do to repair it, if he even wants to. It isn’t a surprise that fans have piled on Cutler, and the media too. That’s what we do, right? But what has been most stunning is the way current and former players have responded. To me, that shows just how poor Cutler’s reputation is among his peers, at least those outside of his own locker room.

The Bears’ and Cutler’s own personal public relations folks have some serious work to do, and they need to start it now. They could also learn a lesson from how they handled the injury on Sunday, and could have saved Cutler some scorn had they announced the severity of the injury on the FOX telecast or via an announcement in the press box. Rule him out, officially, or at least give the guy some crutches, whether he needed them at the time or not.

Wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t care at all, and has no plans to “repair” his image. He could care less what people think.

NJFan

Wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t care at all, and has no plans to “repair” his image. He could care less what people think.

NJFan

Wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t care at all, and has no plans to “repair” his image. He could care less what people think.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZO572HQOQOEWKHYDKRQO5FMPSY Mile High Mark

It’s not Cutler’s toughness that I question, It’s his heart and dedication. I’m afraid he’ll always be looked at like Jeff George was to some extent. At least in the eyes of fans who expect their multi millionaires to be All-In.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZO572HQOQOEWKHYDKRQO5FMPSY Mile High Mark

It’s not Cutler’s toughness that I question, It’s his heart and dedication. I’m afraid he’ll always be looked at like Jeff George was to some extent. At least in the eyes of fans who expect their multi millionaires to be All-In.

Anonymous

They’re reporting has has a torn MCL sounds like a load of crap to me. I have a partially torn MCL and I have trouble walking without a bad limp or standing for long periods of time. Cutler stood without any trouble or any kind of limp or look of discomfort. I think the bears are doing what they can to save Cutlers image which this whole incident has proven is completely destroyed and rightfully so he’s a huge d-bag and karma is catching up to him. Although I’ve heard the bears themselves actually haven’t confirmed this report so it could be Jay himself or a buddy, leaking this crap.

Anonymous

They’re reporting has has a torn MCL sounds like a load of crap to me. I have a partially torn MCL and I have trouble walking without a bad limp or standing for long periods of time. Cutler stood without any trouble or any kind of limp or look of discomfort. I think the bears are doing what they can to save Cutlers image which this whole incident has proven is completely destroyed and rightfully so he’s a huge d-bag and karma is catching up to him. Although I’ve heard the bears themselves actually haven’t confirmed this report so it could be Jay himself or a buddy, leaking this crap.

Jefferyjhwilson

Cutler is Jeff George. And, he is a #1 douchebag. I am glad he is no longer in Denver and I am VERY glad I NEVER purchased a #6 jersey. We got the better QB–Orton.

Jefferyjhwilson

Cutler is Jeff George. And, he is a #1 douchebag. I am glad he is no longer in Denver and I am VERY glad I NEVER purchased a #6 jersey. We got the better QB–Orton.

MFJ

“Although I’ve heard the bears themselves actually haven’t confirmed this report so it could be Jay himself or a buddy, leaking this crap.”

Except for the fact that the Bears announced this at a Lovie Smith press conference, you are exactly right. Maybe the fact that you couldn’t stand means you do not have the pain tolerance that Cutler does.

Ms Jones article is the first one that actually takes into account Cutler’s past history of being a tough player. I also agree that the story is that he has bad PR given his poor relationship with the media.

Also, what is the basis for thinking that he is or is not “all-in”?

MFJ

“Although I’ve heard the bears themselves actually haven’t confirmed this report so it could be Jay himself or a buddy, leaking this crap.”

Except for the fact that the Bears announced this at a Lovie Smith press conference, you are exactly right. Maybe the fact that you couldn’t stand means you do not have the pain tolerance that Cutler does.

Ms Jones article is the first one that actually takes into account Cutler’s past history of being a tough player. I also agree that the story is that he has bad PR given his poor relationship with the media.

Also, what is the basis for thinking that he is or is not “all-in”?

CK

First article I’ve read to address the bigger issue. Nice.

CK

First article I’ve read to address the bigger issue. Nice.

Bob

No, the real issue is that he is a human being not an icon. You treat people like crap when you shove them into a mold and say, “okay a franchise QB must act like this”. His teammates rose up with a lot of passion to defend him. That tells me that people close to him care about him. Y’all need to get a life of your own and treat people the way you want to be treated. Watch the games for what they are: ENTERTAINMENT. No more no less. Don’t play God and judge his heart like that is your job or something. WOW. Really, WOW!

Bob

No, the real issue is that he is a human being not an icon. You treat people like crap when you shove them into a mold and say, “okay a franchise QB must act like this”. His teammates rose up with a lot of passion to defend him. That tells me that people close to him care about him. Y’all need to get a life of your own and treat people the way you want to be treated. Watch the games for what they are: ENTERTAINMENT. No more no less. Don’t play God and judge his heart like that is your job or something. WOW. Really, WOW!

DUDE1234

Got rid of Plummer for this guy???

DUDE1234

Got rid of Plummer for this guy???

rob

I wonder what a shrink would say, is he depressed? does it have something to do with his diabetes? Cutler should be on top of the world, but he seems to spend most of his time sulking. the guy has issues.

rob

I wonder what a shrink would say, is he depressed? does it have something to do with his diabetes? Cutler should be on top of the world, but he seems to spend most of his time sulking. the guy has issues.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.